Thursday, December 29, 2005

Mediocrity

We need to strive to live above mediocre lives. Let's stand up and make a
promise this year to grow more in Christ, to love more, and to evangelize
more. It's not okay to say I am okay with where I am at in my walk. With
this new year let's make a promise to live more for Christ and get into a
deeper relationship with Him. Mediocrity is not okay!

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Something to ponder on...

I have been reading through a book called "Experiencing the Cross" by Henry Blackabee... really awesome book by the way.

Something to think about when it comes to the seriousness of the sin we commit against God, Blackaby speaks of women's labor pains. How many women do you know after having a baby Thank God for reminding us of the serious consequences of committing sin?

Because we know that women having labor pains is a consequence of not just our sin but of Eve's sin as well. I wonder if Eve ever thought about the consequence of the future of all women when God had cursed all women because of the sin she committed.

It's something that hit me hard because I have not had children yet, and I want to remember the seriousness of the sin and Thank God when I have children. So awesome :) Let me know what you think?

My newest website for my portfolio

Check it out, all of the photos I have taken for jobs has been complied onto a website. The content is kind of small because I am not quite sure yet what to put in it. But look in the portfolio section and some of the pictures I have taken are on there.

Visit: www.beezion.com

Saturday, December 24, 2005

Living in an Rv is so fun!!

Well refrigerator door decided to break right off the hinge. Shattered a
jelly jar, broke eggs, and dented Andrew's new briefcase in the process.
Why all of a sudden it decided to break I have no idea just another great
night living in an RV and trying to make it work. Yep yep, great great.
Hope all with you is better than it is with us at midnight.

Saturday, December 17, 2005

My new favorite

CD now is...


I love #2 I Need your Love
#3 Enough
#4 Porcelain Heart

And especially #9 "Thoughts of You" makes me cry everytime I am in my car and I listen to it!

Monday, December 12, 2005

Merry Christ- mas

It's not HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Don't let our society fool you into thinking Happy
Holidays is an ok phrase to say to people. Don't be afraid to say the name
Christ in Christmas. He is our only reason for the season, so let's not
take him out of Christmas.

I know that people can get caughtup in gifts and for me I sometimes wince
when I think of Christmas because to me that means people having even more
of a reason to be greedy. So, I still buy gifts because of the thought of
people getting angry at me.
I heard of a couple that said they weren't going to buy gifts because they
wanted to focus on God. That is a great statement and motive if you follow
through with focusing on the birth of Jesus and focusing on His will for
your lives(s). I would like to think that statement is true, but no one
will know but God. Let's not be people that say something and don't follow
through. Be a man, Be a woman and stick to your word. Don't make promises
you can't keep.
On another note, I am want to see someone else's view on this subject-
your comments:
How did you know the person you are married to now was "The one"?

How do you know the person you are with (dating) is "The one"?

Thursday, December 08, 2005

Narnia 12/8 10:48pm

Just saw Narnia and loved it. The character Lucy makes the movie, I can't
wait to hear others comments.

Before all the hub bub of the movie back when I was a child Lion,Witch,
and the Wardrobe was the first book I can remember reading that I was so
caught up in and actually felt like I was in the book. Seeing the movie
brings back so many fond memories. I hope when I have children that they
will have a book like that!

You all should read the book and then see the movie, the details in the
book are amazing!! If you have seen it already let me know what you thought
about it....

Thursday, December 01, 2005

GREAT news (on our knees)

Well, Thanksgiving day we got some really good news from my dad. He plans on getting married in February or March to a women he met through E-Harmony. They have been talking for about 4 months now and He flew up to Chico to finally meet her and they hit it off. They are talking about more permanent plans, as far as where to live. My dad has about 1 year left til retirement, so he figures that she will move down here temporarily until he retires and then both move backk to Chico. He hates Riverside and is ready for cleaner air, less traffic, and a lovely bride to be.

READY FOR THE REALLY GREAT NEWS??
The great news: When my dad moves to Chico, He offered Andrew & I to rent the house from him. The best part is He is going to let us rent it from him for only $400 a month. Which is such an astronomically amazing blessing for us because we can pretend we own a house but renting it. I am so amazingly excited and I cried when my dad told me because as life goes along I can see now how God has just put pieces of my life together. It is so great!!! Thank you Lord for your abundance and provisions in our life. We love you Lord.

Andrew Sick

Hey everyone Andrew came home sick Tuesday with 103.4 temp and yesterday didn't go to work because he still had temp of 101. Today he is down to 100, still off work but now feeling a lot of better. Dr had him on Extra Strength Tylenol, Robitussin-Cough, Benzonatate, Amoxicillin, and Chlortrymiton (for flem). Yikes, that is a lot of meds, but he is feeling better and ready now to eat a whole meal. Yah, Yah!!!! Thank you all for your prayers!

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Measure of life

How do you measure your life as being good or bad?
Being a secular song and all but I still love it as I always have from the musical RENT, "Seasons of Love". If you dont know by now I absolutely LOVE musicals! Anyway, How do you measure you life? How do you value a person either someone close to you or a poor homeless man on the side of the street? Do count yourself more valuable then that person? Do you love people no matter what? This Thanksgiving holiday I challenge everyone to take a moment a look at their lives and ask yourself do you value the people in your life? Do you love even those you dont know when you have encounters with them? God loved us so much that He gave us His only Son, check yourself this weekend. Love ya all!!!

Monday, November 21, 2005

Beautiful Day

My first day at work was wonderful and God blessed me with such a beautiful
morning and beautiful sunset. Thank you Lord for allowing my eyes to see a
part of your beauty!!

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

All I want for Christmas...

Is my two front teeth... J/k. Christmas came a little early this year and
in a HUGE way. Our friend Josh bought us (me) a sewing serger. I have
wanted one for so long, now I can make all the baby clothes I want. (I am
not pregnant just making baby clothes as a hobby and for the future. I will
post some pictures of the clothes I have made so far. Awww, so cute!!!! God
is good... All the time and All the time... God is good. Lots of love goes
out to Josh :)

Saturday, November 12, 2005

Tragedy Strikes the Kendrew Part 2




Well, as you can see above the plug had completely burned! By the Grace of God, the electrician hired by our Mobile Park fixed the problem and even better the Mobile Estates paid for the problem!!! God is good and everyday we notice that God is totally protecting us and providing for us.

Tragedy Strikes the Kendrew

Today it began, Kendra begins the afternoon by turning on the Air
conditioning in the 5th wheel and then proceeds to plug in her
straightener. 5 minutes later Air conditioning, straightener and all
electrical turns off. 2 minutes later a neighbor knocks on our door and
proceeds to tell Kendra that our meter for electrical was smoking and on
fire. So Kendra turns off all electrical and contacts Andrew and the
assistant manager. Plug for electrical had completely melted to the outlet.
May not have any electrical til Monday, hoping sooner though. The saga
continues... We will share pictures and the finish of the tragedy as soon
as we get internet up.

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Tragedy struck

My dear and precious flat iron literally broke. The paddle actually broke
off the handle, oh well off to a new one, Mmmm a better one! Ooooooh.

"If you Love me..." John 14:15

John (14:15) "If you love me, you will obey what I command."

This is not to say "Lord at one time I loved you". "Love" in this verse is
in the future indicative. It's saying "If you are loving me". Its present
tense, it's a ongoing contiuous love. It's not going to the alter call or
the crusade one time and saying that is loving God. It is a daily
commitment to following the law of Christ. It's not okay to say Well, I
ONCE loved him, and that is enough. NO the Bible tells us in these verses
we are to be loving God continually.

Satan would have us believe and deceive us that the law is bad and that the
law is too controlling and unjust but the law is good. Romans (7:12) "So
then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good."
God's commandments and laws are good. We need the law, so we can know
right from wrong. The law is good because it is from God. Paul explains
here that those things that Satan deceives us with is wrong. The law is
good and holy.

If you are LOVING God then you will keep his commandments.

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Robert Elliott- John 14:12

Have you ever listened to a sermon that used profanity or even just lowered
their standards to get a laugh out of you or shock you? How do you feel
about it? Maybe you feel that it is okay to get the people to laugh to get
the point across and in certain situations maybe God has called them to do
that. Shouldn't a pastor take on Christ's way of teaching in how he
speaks? Doesn't making jokes sometimes speak irreverant of God? Is God's
name not Holy enough that we should make jokes and ridicule His name? Jesus
never used shock to bring people to believe in Him, shouldn't we be the
same? Read the excerpt from a sermon below and I want to hear your
comments:

"He never misled, he never said anything that would give false hopes or
draw a crowd and get people in around them and stir them up with no
thought of the future, ah who cares if in ten years or twenty years their
not here, as long as just now were getting a crowd. As long as just now
were making people feel somethings happening. We'll say whatever it takes.
Jesus never did that once, never once! "

Saving this one for my girl

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Robert Elliott speaking on John 14:7-11

"Imagine where Philip would have ended up."

"What was necessary was for Philip and the disciples to humbly say Lord,
keep on teaching me. As long as it's you Lord, as long as it's your work."

"There needs to be a teachable heart that says I can be like Philip, I
could have known you for all these years and yet still not be getting it
still be missing vital elements of who you are and what you really said,
what you really taught. Lord, I need to be teachable."

"There's no place for us thinking that we've either heard all there is to
hear nor is there a place for us to think that we've even understood all
that we have heard. And certainly not any place for us to think that we
have embraced and applied all that is to embrace and apply. That should be
a million miles from our thoughts"

** Are you living your life like Philip? Going on in life for years
thinking that you know all of God? We need to be always seeking to know
more about God! Don't let your walk become non existent,dont become
stagnant in your faith. Always seek after more knowledge of Christ. Don't
be slow in understanding God. I want you all to have depth to your
relationship with God, open your heart and mind and Be Teachable with a
humble spirit. A fire that is being fanned each moment of your life, so
that others may know HIM fully. A fire that catches so quickly no thing
could ever put it out. And the only thing to quench your thirst from the
heat always being GOD!

80 % of American today state that they are Christians! If 80% of American
were Christians then why is God not sweeping over the nation and
revolutions being started. It's because few of that % truly know God and
truly seek to please God and find favor with God. Don't be that % of people
that say they are Christians and never live it. Stand out, and boldly
proclaim the Word of God because you cannot hold it in any longer.
My prayer is that God will reveal to you all that He has shown me. That He
will put a fire in you to proclaim the Word and love of God. That he will
open your minds to understand God more and open your heart to Love God even
more!!!

Monday, November 07, 2005

Burt's Bees



Bought some hair care products from Burt's Bees and I am totally convinced that these products are the best and most organic of all I have tried on the market right now. Have kiddies, you should try Baby Bee products shampoo's and lotions. They are so cool. Check them out at: www.BurtsBees.com

Saturday, November 05, 2005

Anyone need a full time job?

Hey there everyone, I am currently moving to a new position in my company and there is currently a new job opening for an Accounts Payable/Clerk. If you know of anyone that might need a job and has clerical experience then please contact me so I can get that set up. You do not need to have accounting experience, just need some clerical experience. Let me know asap, as the opening will be closing within 2 weeks. The office is located in Riverside. Thanks for your ears!!

Friday, November 04, 2005

Robert Elliot- John 7 sermon excerpts

"David knew God, enjoyed God, lived for God, was zealous for God, bound with a fire for God. Even in those circumstances he fell, he sinned, but he repented and pursued holiness. How much more ought we with the promise of the new covenant, the coming of the Spirit, those in whom he lives . How much more ought we enjoy God, know God, and glorify God. "

"We should be ashamed of our patheticness at times, our puniness, our toleration of sin in our lives, Putting up with just lives of mediocrity when it comes to a communion of God, knowledge of God, an enjoyment of God, and a celebration of who God is. We should be so ashamed of all that."

** We cannot be complacent in where we are in our faith. We need to be constantly seeking after God like David was, he was a man after God's own heart. We cannot tolerate living a life of mediocrity but seeking to live a life of righteousness and holiness. After I heard that sermon, I know that we are pathetic and we should be ashamed of how we live our lives. The Bible had men and women of righteouness Abraham, Moses, David, Ruth. We say we spend time in the Bible and praying but compared to how much we spend doing other things are we really spending time with God a lot. I know I am convicted of spending more time reading and praying, I know that I am pathetic and that I need to seek after holiness and righteousness so that God may favor me like did Noah and Abraham. I have a fire in me to work harder to be more like Jesus and be convicted more often of the things we need to do to glorify Christ. So that others will look at me without even me speaking and know without a doubt a follower of Christ. But even more than just a follower and believing the Word of God, but to be found evident that righteousness has been given to me by Christ. That he is living in me and that I exhale all that God is in daily living. Like Jeremiah (20:9) But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." I will not hold it in, like Jesus who spoke boldly to the people and was a bold witness. So I will strive to speak boldly when God has called me!

Robert Elliot- John 7

"That the satisfaction of the body and its desires and even needs is not what life is alla bout. Having your needs of the moment met are not what its all about!"

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Robert Elliot- John 7

Speaking of the Chief Priests and Pharisees "While they are seeking Him, they are not seeking Him in the sense of the fact that their souls needs to be given life. They are not seeking Him as those who are regenerated individuals hankering after the Savior's grace. They are seeking Him as hunters, They're seeking Him to destroy Him. As those who would hunt out their quarry and their prey. The Lord Jesus is being hunted by these men. However the Lord makes this comment which would go over the head of an average person but would have caused the officer's heart to skip a beat because He knew they were seeking after Him. It was like He knew what was going on or something, well, He did. And He was subtly speaking to them. It is interesting that men do seek Jesus in their unregenerate state but they seek Him to deny Him. They seek Him to ridicule Him. Men seek the knowledge of Jesus in order that they might dismiss Him. That's what happens in the unregenerate condition, Men do seek Jesus but it so that they can justify themselves in sin. NO MAN CAN SEEK AFTER JESUS, A SAVIOR, UNLESS THE SPIRIT OF GOD HAS AWAKENED HIM AND QUICKENED HIM."


** Awesome sermon, such a deep pastor and meat driven speaking.

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Happy Pumpkin Party!!!

Here are some pics of our pumpkin blast last night!!!!






Saturday, October 29, 2005

Ye olde Medieval Times


THANK YOU JOSH READ!For my first time at Medieval Time. Red Knight lost :(
Had a fun time with Andrew, Stephanie, and Josh!!! I will put some more
pictures in once I transfer them!!!

Friday, October 28, 2005

Friday


Today at work was crazy, they decided that they were going to restructure my job and give me all accounts payable. Unfortunately, I had just put in a transfer request to Human Resources. I had to break the news to my boss, and I thought she wasn't going to be real happy with me. So, when I told her she said "Good for you". All day I was stressing over nothing. I prayed for God to let everything work out smoothly, and sure enough He is faithful in answering my prayers. GOD IS SOOOOOOO GOOD!

Oh man, tonight was a lot of fun. Had our friends Eric and Becca (soon to be married Dec. 3rd) over for din-din. I made Chicken Fettucini Alfredo with Asparagus topped with Hollandaise sauce, and Garlic bread. Then after, we headed down to our spa and enjoyed the heat!!

The Andrew and I got creative with the camera, take a look at the goofy picture!!!

Monday, October 24, 2005

A World of Hurt



People are dying. For the short time that I have helped in ministry and seen the effects of it, I know now that there are too many people that need to be reached out to. People I once knew have turned from their faith and have utterly turned their backs to God and still have hope that they will be saved.

I feel so overwhelmed by the hurt that people are going through. My heart aches so much for people that I sometimes find myself crying for them. I guess it's because I want them to know God like I know God, to feel His love like I feel His love everyday. I know that some people choose to stay in sin because they feel that they can't come to God with their "tail between their legs", but I would rather do that then imagine spending an eternity away from my Maker.

My hand has reached out to many, but never grabbed. I see their lives going down this downward spiral and I only wish that they would grab the life saver. It hurts so bad to see that people have settled for such pain. How much are you willing to sacrifice to save a friend, or even yet a stranger? Love, "This is how we know what Love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with our words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:16-18

People are so concerned with the politics of church that they miss out on sharing in the Love of Christ. So many people are so concerned with who belongs to which denomination that they forget we are to have Unity in Christ. Let us come together as followers of Christ and believers of The Bible and worship together.

Offense, I think Satan has reached into the core of people and have turned their hearts cold because of offense. Ever notice how easily people get offended nowadays? People are getting offended easier and easier and deciding to never come back to church because of something so tiny. Don't let Satan Bait you. Check out a book written by John Bevere "Bait of Satan"-- Description: "Are you ensnared by bitterness, seized by anger, held captive by resentment because someone has offended you? Bevere shows you how to escape Satan's grip, avoid a victim mentality, practice forgiveness, experience reconciliation, and remain free in Christ."

Saturday, October 22, 2005

What's going on?


Where do I start?

I have been praying for about 6 months now about new jobs or a new career or an opportunity, but recently I feel like God doesn't want me to go anywhere. Andrew points out to me that I should be happy with any job that I have, because God has given it to you. He also pointed out that I have never been happy with any job that I have had. Not that I disagree either, I guess I just expect that I should be in a job that meets my personal interests as well and my strenghts. I really want to try to find a job that I can do from home, so when kids come I won't have to change jobs or anything. Keep me in your prayers as I am trying to figure out if God is telling me to be happy with the job I have, or it is just the wrong timing for me to switch jobs. Currently at my work they will be opening a position for a Human Resources receptionist which pays more and of course, would be a much more involved and busy job. All I would have to do is put in a transfer request, and get interviewed and see if I would be able to get the job. I want to make sure that this is what He wants for me. Maybe God has not put a desire in me to work for a company because of my desire to have kids and be home with them. I don't know pray for me to have direction and guidance, and to have wisdom in making my decisions.

Andrew has gotten bumped up to 20 hours at the church now, which we are both very excited about. He can quit a few more hours at PCN, which is moving towards the ultimate goal of being in ministry full-time. We started separating the Jr/Sr. high groups on Mondays and College/Career on Tuesdays. The boys are doing great in the college/career, but I have a steady 1 girl when it comes to Tuesday nights. It really is frustrating because I have so many girls say, Yeah I'd come and then when I announced it no one decided to come. Anyway, we may end up just combining the boys and girls for college/career because apparently there is no need for college girls on tuesday nights. We have some really fun events coming up for Barefeet up until December, so it is so awesome. I hope we get a good turn out of kids on our events.

Financially, we are doing really good. God is just totally blessing us with out finances. We have been following our budget pretty closely for like 3 months now and we will completely credit card debt free as of March 24th!!! We are so thrilled, we only had problems with stuff on credit because Andrew has had to do some major work on his truck and we never have the money we need in our accounts for it, and it just kinda built up. So, we will still owe on the truck and the Rv but that should be paid off about 1 year from now. We are still saving while doing all of these payments, but we hope to buy me a new car after March because my car is just not as reliable as it used to be and for as far as I drive to work; it would be better to get something new.

We don't know what God is going to with us as far as a house, we struggle between not owing a man anything and using it for ministry. We know that God will be able to open way more doors if we buy a house or we live in a house. Financially, in this market, I don't know how it is possible with a small house costing $400,000. Yikes!! So we thought about buying a biggern RV til we can save enough, but I refuse to raise children in an RV. So we have a few options, my dad asked if he moved would we want to rent his house from him, and we really are thinking about that. Renting it from him so eventually we can buy it from him. My grandma's house, in Riverside, is another option. She might be moving temporarily or permanently into assisted living. She has said to us many times that she doesn't want to sell the house and she want to keep it in the family. So we thought about being able to rent the house from my grandma until we can buy it off of her. Rent would have to be within our means though. So, we are just waiting to see what God will lay before us for the future. We had planned on having kids about 2 1/2 years from now but man... that keeps looking harder and harder but I think that is only because well, we live in a Fifth wheel. Anyway, Keep all these things in your prayers for us.


That picture is funny, thought I would attach it!!!

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

In this place

I have been speaking into the light
Saying my prayers each and every night

I am listening for you to speak
No answer to be, not even a peep

How many times have I prayed this prayer?
Asking you Lord only to hear

I pray for you to open the door
Even though my spirit is poor

I need you Lord to speak to me
Only a word that's all I plee

You see my tears and
You know my fears

My knees can feel the pain
All the begging I feel no gain

Lord, do you hear me?
Leave me wondering what's to be

In this huge forest of darkness
Don't leave me here without your kindness

I'll sit here quiet my El Shaddai
Your answer, don't let me cry

In these prayers patiently I wait
In your timing, You're never late

Friday, October 14, 2005

Soul Mate or Sole Mate?

Soul Mate or Sole Mate?
By Gary Thomas

The young woman calling the radio program admitted that the man she was dating was for lack of a better word a "jerk." He had cheated on her with her best friend; he had no aspirations, and any objective person could see that the guy she had fallen for was not suitable marriage material. Still, she persisted: "I know I can't trust him, I know he doesn't treat me very well, I know he's not going anywhere, but I think he may be the one."
Our culture has embraced a rather absurd notion that there is just one person who can, in the words immortalized by Tom Cruise in Jerry Maguire, "complete us." This is a disastrous mindset with which to approach a lifelong marital decision.
The notion of a "soul mate" is actually pretty ancient. Well over two thousand years ago, the Greek philosopher Plato surmised that a perfect human being was tragically split in two, resulting in a race of creatures sentenced to spend the rest of their lives searching for that missing other who can complete them.
Despite such bizarre philosophical musing, the notion of a soul mate has deeply rooted itself in our culture, inspiring countless movies, novels, and top-40 songs. One Rutgers University study found that 94 percent of people in their twenties say that the first requirement in a spouse is someone who qualifies as a soul mate. Just as surprising, 87 percent think they'll actually find that person "when they are ready."2 A culture suspicious of God nevertheless has brazenly embraced some sort of forceful and intelligent destiny that brings two lovelorn souls together!
The real danger in this line of thinking is that many people mistake a storm of emotion as the identifying mark of their soul mate. How else can you identify "destiny"? Such individuals marry on an infatuation binge without seriously considering character, compatibility, life goals, family desires, spiritual health, and other important concerns. Then when the music fades and the relationship requires work, one or both partners suddenly discover that they were "mistaken": this person must not be their soul mate after all! Otherwise, it wouldn't be so much work. Next they panic. Their soul mate must still be out there! Such people can't get to divorce court fast enough, lest someone steal their "one true soul mate" meant only for them. When we get married for trivial reasons, we tend to seek divorce for trivial reasons.

Good and Bad Choices

In a biblical view, there is not "one right choice" for marriage, but rather good and bad choices. We are encouraged to use wisdom, not destiny, as our guide when choosing a marital partner. There is no indication that God creates "one" person for us to marry. This is because Christians believe that God brings the primary meaning into our lives. Marriage though wonderful is still secondary.
Consider, for example, Paul's advice in 1 Corinthians 7:1-9 . He clearly leaves the choice of marriage up to us; there are benefits to singleness, and benefits to being married. If you're unable to handle sexual temptation as a single, Paul says, then by all means, get married. There is no hint at all of finding "the one person" that God created "just for you." It's far more a pragmatic choice: do you think you'll sin sexually if you don't get married (1 Corinthians 7:2)? Are you acting improperly toward a woman you could marry (1 Corinthians 7:36 )? If so, go ahead and get married รข€” it's your choice, and God gives you that freedom.
Proverbs takes the same approach: "A wife of noble character, who can find?" (31:10, NIV). This passage has been hilariously misunderstood as being directed toward women, but the verse you've just read makes it clear that Proverbs 31 was written mostly for young, single men, telling them, "This is what you want to look for in a wife." And the top thing to consider is this: "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised" (Proverbs 31:30). The Bible is telling young men to search for a woman of character; looks won't last, but character never leaves.
I can speak from experience: nothing compares to being married to a godly woman. Nothing! But there is also nothing more tedious and exhausting than being married to a narcissist, or a selfish woman. Marriage is 98 percent living and 2 percent looking so learn to value character over appearance.

Making the Choice

The reason it is so crucial to adopt the Bible's view of "good and bad choices" over your destiny of finding "the one" is that the former attitude allows you to objectively consider the person you marry. There is no objective measurement of "destiny." Powerful emotions can blind us to all sorts of clues; when we adopt the biblical attitude of making a "wise" choice, we can use all that God has given us to arrive at a solid decision that should be based on a number of factors:
Scriptural mandates
Is the person a believer who fears God (Proverbs 31:30) and who is biblically eligible for marriage (Mark 10:11-12)?


Wisdom
How do they handle their money? (Proverbs 31:16, 18)
Is this person a hard worker? (Proverbs 13:4; 26:13-15)
Do they live an upright life? (Proverbs 13:6, 20; 25:28)
Does this person wound people with their words, or are they an encourager? (Proverbs 12:18; 18:21)
Are they peaceful, or quarrelsome? (Proverbs 17:19; 29:8)



Parental, pastoral, and wise advice

Your parents know you better than you may realize, and even if they aren't believers, they generally want the best for you. Also talk to your pastor and people you respect for their counsel: "Does this relationship seem like a 'fit' to you? Are there any areas you're concerned about?" If the people I most respected had serious reservations about a relationship, I would assume I had lost my objectivity due to infatuation and put all marriage plans on hold.



Prayer

Rejecting the notion that God creates one person just for us doesn't discount the reality that God can lead us toward someone, and help us make a wise choice when we seek him in prayer.
What is a 'Sole Mate'?
The search for "the one" is often an idolatrous pursuit. As Christians, we must believe that our primary meaning comes from our relationship with God: "Seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness..." (Matthew 6:33, NKJV, emphasis added). Thus, a Christian should not consider any marital union that would not feed this primary relationship with God. You'll bring great misery into your life if you ignore this command.
But also just as importantly we mustn't enter into a marriage expecting more than another human can give. If my wife looks to me to be God for her to love her like only God can love her I'll fail every time and on every count. I'm trying, but I fall short every day. Tragically, I see too many young people wanting to get married in order to find this God-acceptance and God-love. Infatuation can initially feel like it approaches this God-love, but eventually it fades, disillusionment sets in, and the once "fabulous" relationship soon becomes an excruciating prison.
Can I suggest a more biblical pattern? Instead of following Plato in a wild pursuit of our soul mate, we should seek to find a biblical "sole mate." A sole mate is someone who walks with us as together we apply biblical love. The most accurate definition of true love is found in John 15:13 (NASB): "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."
This love is not based on feelings, but on sacrifice. The Bible calls men to act like martyrs toward their wives, laying down their own lives on their wives' behalf (Ephesians 5:26). Love is not an emotion; it's a policy and a commitment that we choose to keep. Such a love is not based on the worthiness of the person being loved none of us deserve Christ's sacrifice! but on the worthiness of the One who calls us to love: "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19).
A "sole mate" appreciates that marriage is a school of character. Clement of Alexandria, an early church father (ca. 150-215), captures this thinking marvelously when he writes, "The prize in the contest of men is shown by him who has trained himself by the discharge of the duties of marriage; by him, I say, who in the midst of his solicitude for his family shows himself inseparable from the love of God."
Clement asks, who wins the prize? Not the couple displaying the most emotion, with the biggest smiles on their faces, or who can't keep their hands off each other; but rather, the women or men who, through the duties and sacrifice of marriage, have trained themselves to love with God's love. They live out the gospel on a daily basis, forgiving, serving, and putting others first in the most ordinary issues of life in such a way that they see themselves in training for godliness.
As Christ's follower as a true sole mate I'm called to take his example and his definition of love and apply it to my spouse. It really doesn't matter whether my spouse is a "soul mate," as much as it matters that I choose to love her with Christ's love. That means a sacrificial mindset marked by generosity, kindness, and mercy for she certainly is my sole mate, my precious sister in Christ.
A biblical sole mate who walks in this truth, who daily travels God's journey of sacrificial love, and who willingly goes "into training" for godliness is a far more stable foundation upon which to build a lifelong partnership than the philosophy of Plato. "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." This may not sound like the most exciting or emotional love, but it is certainly the truest love.
Notes
See Plato's "Symposium" in The Portable Plato, Scott Buchanan, ed. (New York: Penguin Books, 1948), pp. 146-148. Back^
The State of Our Unions 2001 (Piscataway, NJ: The National Marriage Project, 2001), pp. 6, 8. For more information, see "The State of Our Unions: 2005." Back^

Public Expression of Religious Act of 2005

Taken from the Center for Reclaiming America for Christ

(HR 2679)--vital legislation that would keep secular
organizations like the ACLU from collecting attorney fees
after suing communities to remove religious symbols.

Click here to read more about this legislation:


Unless Christians unite and rally against the aggressive and
opportunistic nature of the ACLU, we can expect increased
attacks on our religious freedoms and an eventual loss of
our right to publicly acknowledge God in our nation.


Click here to sign the petition



+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
The Center for Reclaiming America for Christ, established by
Dr. D. James Kennedy, is an outreach of Coral Ridge Ministries
to inform the American public and motivate Christians to defend
and implement the biblical principles on which our country was
founded. The Center, led by Executive Director Dr. Gary Cass,
provides non-partisan, non-denominational information, training,
and support to all those interested in impacting the culture and
renewing the vision set forth by our Founding Fathers.

Thursday, October 13, 2005

News from Kendrew 10/13/2005

Well I can say that Andrew and I are probably the most tired 20 somethings you've ever met, ha ha. We are only at home 2-3 nights a week. Here's the run down to give you an idea:
Monday- Barfeet Edge: Jr. and Sr. High
Tuesday- Barefeet Limits: College and Career
Wednesday- Laundry, car maintenance??
Thursday- Personal devotion night together
Friday- Hanging out with friends
Saturday- Maybe sleeping in but usually helping his parents on their new property in Cherry Valley and rotating with Couples Bible study at our church startong Oct 22nd.
Sunday- Church and dinner at the Gladuras.

Andrew was up for Evangelist Coordinator at our church so he could get more hours with the church. Well, he didn't get the Evangelist Coordinator position but the church decided to move him up to 20 hours a week now (whooo-hooo)! We are very excited to see how God will be able to use this now. Andrew is reading a lot of books as I am trying to as well. I am trying to find time for my hobbies but it's super hard. I am still trying to figure out why God still has me working at my current job. I am praying for God to open the door for some kind of new job for me. I have a few possibilities 1) First Centenniel bank in Redlands, my mom hooked me up the VP of the bank and she submitted my resume in the loan department. 2) Word of mouth heard that First Baptist in Riverside might soon be opening a position for a full time accountant paying more than what I make now.
We are chugging right along on our debt- we will be debt free as of March 24th. I have been a little debt eating monster, paying huge chunks ever pay period to get rid of it so I can start saving for the house. I can see an end in sight for the debt and it really makes me smile, God is so good :)

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

My first Post

Alrighty so I changed from myspace blogs because not anyone can post a comment on my blogs and it got annoying. Plus, myspace is so popular that it is bogged down with people uploading new pictures and putting pictures in their blogs the site sometimes will just shut down and stop working. So, I think Andrew & I are going to like this one a lot better, Keep checking back because this will be the only site that I will be writing on, that is if you want to see what we are up to. So anyway, see ya'll later.